Happy Holidays and Thank You!

Happy Holidays and Thank You!

The holidays are approaching and with that comes the special time of year where we want to give thanks and show love to our family, friends and people who have helped us this past year. I would like to say thanks to my referral partners, my clients and I want to extend thanks to my family and friends for which I would not be able to enjoy what I do. I hope my clients and business partners feel the same way and offer thanks to the people who have made you the person you are today.

I want to wish you all a happy and safe holiday. Thank you!

5 Tips to Perfect Your Holiday Budget

5 Tips to Perfect Your Holiday Budget

The holidays are upon us and with that comes the season of giving and sharing with the less fortunate. The problem with this time of year is that many people tend to overspend their holiday budget. To avoid this, I will share an article I discovered from Practical Money Skills that details five easy steps for creating a holiday budget.

1. Set Your Budget
The best place to start making a holiday budget is to look at your spending during last year's holiday season. In what areas did you spend more than planned? Next, make a list of the holiday purchases and events you plan to spend money on this year. Consider all of your major spending categories: gifts, entertaining, meals, and travel–then estimate how much you can afford to spend in each category. Knowing your spending goals long beforehand will help you stay on track financially as the season heats up. This easy-to-use Holiday Budget Calculator can help.

2. Get Creative
One great way to save money and wow friends and families is to get creative. Store-bought gifts are great, but homemade gift are often more meaningful and most recipients truly appreciate your time and effort. Ideas for creative gift projects are plentiful online. Sites like this one should give you a few ideas to start with. If you like the idea of a personal touch and affordability but don't have the time or skill to make gifts yourself, the ultimate marketplace for homemade gifts is Etsy, where you can find crafty items from over 200,000 sellers.

3. Join Together
Instead of excessively spending on each other this year, join together with family members to help those who may be less fortunate. Online opportunities are easy to find, and there are several in this article, "Helping others when money is tight." Other opportunities for online giving can be found at the websites for Oxfam International and ACCION.

4. Travel Wisely
If you plan on traveling, take some time to determine how much it will cost you with our Holiday Travel Planner and don't forget these holiday travel planning tips.

5. Entertain for Less
Holidays are a wonderful time to entertain, but a little planning and budgeting can help you avoid financial headaches. Let our Holiday Entertainment Planner help you ensure a fun event that won't tax you financially. Also check out these holiday entertainment tips to help you keep your holiday budget in shape.

Remember, Terry Williams: see you on the other side.